S2-11 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

Description

Aim: To teach the children about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Introduction: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are known from the book of Daniel Chapters 1—3, for their exclusive devotion to God, having been delivered safely by God from being burned alive in a fiery furnace. They were three young Jews. of noble birth from Judah and friends of Daniel. Taken from the BB Anchors Pro Pack S-2-11

Resources

Instructions

Activity 1 - The Fiery Furnace

Aim: To learn about Shadrach. Meshach and Abednego and their faithfulness.

Preparation:
Read Daniel 1-3

Instructions:
The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace - Daniel 3

Ring Nebuchadnezzar made a huge image of gold. He then called all of his officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. He then had a herald call out to everyone, ‘I command everyone as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’

So as soon as all the people heard the sound of music, they fell down and worshipped the image of gold that Ring Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

At this time some of the officials denounced the Jews and said to Ring Nebuchadnezzar,

May the king live forever! Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, but there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who do not listen to you. Your Majesty they do not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar called Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said, King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is

able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest solders in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and firmly tied up, the three fell into the blazing furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his officials Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the Ore?”

They replied, Certainly, Your Majesty.”

He said, took! I see four men walking around in the fire, they are not tied up or harmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the officials crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and ignored the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way”

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

The three boys chose to do what was right in the eyes of God and they followed God even though it meant they could be hurt or even killed. The boys were not sure that God would choose to save their lives but they knew that they could not and would not bow down and worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold.

God commanded his people in the ten commandments that - You shall have no other gods before me - Exodus 20:3.

When we stand up for what is right in God’s eyes God will be with us.

Let’s Pray:
Dear God
Thank you that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
listened to your commands and honoured You.
Thank you that you protected them from harm
because they trusted in You. Please help us to trust in You too.
Amen

Extension Tasks/Adaptations:
• Watch the Veggie Tale film that goes with this story.
• Ask some simple questions about the story.

Activity 2 - The Fiery Furnace Craft

Aim: To reinforce the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego through a craft activity.

Preparation:
You might want to prepare an example of the picture to show the children, but explain that this is only your version. They don’t have to do it exactly the same.

Instructions:
• Use A4 Card as the base for the picture.
• Create three figures. They could be drawn directly onto the card or cut out of other card and stuck on.
• Colour the figures and glue on material clothes.
• Create the fire using coloured tissue paper — you could have some pre-cut of different colours and different lengths.
• The children could add a fourth figure — the Son of God

Activity 3 - Taking a Stand

Aim: To ask the children to think about their actions and standing up for what is right.

Instructions:
• It can seem hard for children to take a stand but in most cases, it doesn’t cost that much to do what is right.
• Get the children to think about the consequences that taking a stand had for Shadrach. Meshach, and Abednego.

What might happen to us when we take a stand?
• Children might laugh at us—but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown in jail.
• Children will think we are unpopular—but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were sent to be burned in the furnace.
• We need to remember that it does not cost us very much to stand up for what is right and to stand up for God in our country.
• In other parts of the world, people are put in prison, hurt, or even killed for believing in God.

Let’s have a think about how we can take a stand. You can read out the questions from the table below and see how the children respond. You could give the children the possible answers as below if they are struggling.

Questions Possible Answers
Children in your class will not Ask her to play with you. Ignore her too.
play with the new girl. What
will you do?

The teacher is cross with the Stay cross with the teacher Make sure that you behave
class and makes you all stay all day well
in at playtime

Your Mum says you cannot Get cross and have a Play with something else
watch TV tantrum

You break something in your Tell your parents and say Put it back where it was and
house sorry say nothing

You want some more You sneak into the cupboard You listen and obey what you
chocolate cake after you when no one is around and have been told
are told that you have had have some more
enough

Your Dad asks you if you. You lie and say yes of course You say I will go and do them
have brushed your teeth now

There is a boy in the park You go over and ask him if You laugh at him and go to
who has fallen over and hurt he is ok and go with him to play on the slide with your
himself find his Mum. other friends

Let’s pray:
Thank you God for our freedom to be Christians
and please help us to stand up for what
is right and to stand up for You
whenever we can.
Amen